US11019431B2 - Audio system - Google Patents
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- US11019431B2 US11019431B2 US16/383,616 US201916383616A US11019431B2 US 11019431 B2 US11019431 B2 US 11019431B2 US 201916383616 A US201916383616 A US 201916383616A US 11019431 B2 US11019431 B2 US 11019431B2
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- H02J7/00—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R5/00—Stereophonic arrangements
- H04R5/033—Headphones for stereophonic communication
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- H02J50/00—Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power
- H02J50/10—Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling
- H02J50/12—Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling of the resonant type
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R1/00—Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
- H04R1/10—Earpieces; Attachments therefor ; Earphones; Monophonic headphones
- H04R1/1016—Earpieces of the intra-aural type
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R1/00—Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
- H04R1/10—Earpieces; Attachments therefor ; Earphones; Monophonic headphones
- H04R1/1025—Accumulators or arrangements for charging
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R1/00—Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
- H04R1/20—Arrangements for obtaining desired frequency or directional characteristics
- H04R1/32—Arrangements for obtaining desired frequency or directional characteristics for obtaining desired directional characteristic only
- H04R1/326—Arrangements for obtaining desired frequency or directional characteristics for obtaining desired directional characteristic only for microphones
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R2499/00—Aspects covered by H04R or H04S not otherwise provided for in their subgroups
- H04R2499/10—General applications
- H04R2499/11—Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's
Definitions
- One or more embodiments of the invention generally relate to audio systems. More particularly, certain embodiments of the invention relate to headphones.
- headphones are available in the market that include, but are not limited to, headphones connected to a device with wires, headphones with “over the head parts” connected to a device either with wires and/or wirelessly, headphones with “behind the neck parts” connected to a device either with wires and/or wirelessly, and the like.
- the wired headphones may face an omnipresent issue of the wires getting entangled or breaking, the headphones with “over the head” parts may interfere with your hair or hat, the headphones with “behind the neck” parts may interfere with your collar, necklace, neck tie, pillow, etc., and the user may at times waste time in finding the ear buds on the end of a wired headphone to re-insert them into the user's ears, and the like issues.
- FIG. 1 illustrates an audio system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 2 illustrates an architecture for an audio system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 3 illustrates a photograph of an exemplary prototype of an audio system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 4 illustrates a side view photograph of an exemplary prototype of an audio system being used by a user, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 5 illustrates a front view photograph of an exemplary prototype of an audio system being used by a user, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram depicting a conventional client/server communication system, which may be used by an exemplary web-enabled/networked embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 7 is a block diagram depicting an exemplary client/server system which may be used by an exemplary web-enabled/networked embodiment of the present invention.
- a reference to “a step” or “a means” is a reference to one or more steps or means and may include sub-steps and subservient means. All conjunctions used are to be understood in the most inclusive sense possible.
- the word “or” should be understood as having the definition of a logical “or” rather than that of a logical “exclusive or” unless the context clearly necessitates otherwise.
- Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. Language that may be construed to express approximation should be so understood unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
- the ordinary and customary meaning of terms like “substantially” includes “reasonably close to: nearly, almost, about”, connoting a term of approximation. See In re Frye, 94 USPQ2d 1072, 1077, 2010 WL 889747 (B.P.A.I. 2010) Depending on its usage, the word “substantially” can denote either language of approximation or language of magnitude. Deering Precision Instruments, L.L.C. v. Vector Distribution Sys., Inc., 347 F.3d 1314, 1323 (Fed. Cir.
- case law generally recognizes a dual ordinary meaning of such words of approximation, as contemplated in the foregoing, as connoting a term of approximation or a term of magnitude; e.g., see Deering Precision Instruments, L.L.C. v. Vector Distrib. Sys., Inc., 347 F.3d 1314, 68 USPQ2d 1716, 1721 (Fed. Cir. 2003), cert. denied, 124 S. Ct. 1426 (2004) where the court was asked to construe the meaning of the term “substantially” in a patent claim.
- Epcon 279 F.3d at 1031 (“The phrase ‘substantially constant’ denotes language of approximation, while the phrase ‘substantially below’ signifies language of magnitude, i.e., not insubstantial.”). Also, see, e.g., Epcon Gas Sys., Inc. v. Bauer Compressors, Inc., 279 F.3d 1022 (Fed. Cir. 2002) (construing the terms “substantially constant” and “substantially below”); Zodiac Pool Care, Inc. v. Hoffinger Indus., Inc., 206 F.3d 1408 (Fed. Cir. 2000) (construing the term “substantially inward”); York Prods., Inc. v. Cent.
- Words of approximation may also be used in phrases establishing approximate ranges or limits, where the end points are inclusive and approximate, not perfect; e.g., see AK Steel Corp. v. Sollac, 344 F.3d 1234, 68 USPQ2d 1280, 1285 (Fed. Cir. 2003) where it where the court said [W]e conclude that the ordinary meaning of the phrase “up to about 10%” includes the “about 10%” endpoint.
- AK Steel when an object of the preposition “up to” is nonnumeric, the most natural meaning is to exclude the object (e.g., painting the wall up to the door).
- a goal of employment of such words of approximation, as contemplated in the foregoing, is to avoid a strict numerical boundary to the modified specified parameter, as sanctioned by Pall Corp. v. Micron Separations, Inc., 66 F.3d 1211, 1217, 36 USPQ2d 1225, 1229 (Fed. Cir. 1995) where it states “It is well established that when the term “substantially” serves reasonably to describe the subject matter so that its scope would be understood by persons in the field of the invention, and to distinguish the claimed subject matter from the prior art, it is not indefinite.” Likewise see Verve LLC v.
- references to a “device,” an “apparatus,” a “system,” etc., in the preamble of a claim should be construed broadly to mean “any structure meeting the claim terms” exempt for any specific structure(s)/type(s) that has/(have) been explicitly disavowed or excluded or admitted/implied as prior art in the present specification or incapable of enabling an object/aspect/goal of the invention.
- the present specification discloses an object, aspect, function, goal, result, or advantage of the invention that a specific prior art structure and/or method step is similarly capable of performing yet in a very different way
- the present invention disclosure is intended to and shall also implicitly include and cover additional corresponding alternative embodiments that are otherwise identical to that explicitly disclosed except that they exclude such prior art structure(s)/step(s), and shall accordingly be deemed as providing sufficient disclosure to support a corresponding negative limitation in a claim claiming such alternative embodiment(s), which exclude such very different prior art structure(s)/step(s) way(s).
- references to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,” “various embodiments,” “some embodiments,” “embodiments of the invention,” etc., may indicate that the embodiment(s) of the invention so described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but not every possible embodiment of the invention necessarily includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Further, repeated use of the phrase “in one embodiment,” or “in an exemplary embodiment,” “an embodiment,” do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although they may.
- references to “user”, or any similar term, as used herein, may mean a human or non-human user thereof.
- “user”, or any similar term, as used herein, unless expressly stipulated otherwise, is contemplated to mean users at any stage of the usage process, to include, without limitation, direct user(s), intermediate user(s), indirect user(s), and end user(s).
- the meaning of “user”, or any similar term, as used herein, should not be otherwise inferred or induced by any pattern(s) of description, embodiments, examples, or referenced prior-art that may (or may not) be provided in the present patent.
- references to “end user”, or any similar term, as used herein, is generally intended to mean late stage user(s) as opposed to early stage user(s). Hence, it is contemplated that there may be a multiplicity of different types of “end user” near the end stage of the usage process.
- examples of an “end user” may include, without limitation, a “consumer”, “buyer”, “customer”, “purchaser”, “shopper”, “enjoyer”, “viewer”, or individual person or non-human thing benefiting in any way, directly or indirectly, from use of. or interaction, with some aspect of the present invention.
- some embodiments of the present invention may provide beneficial usage to more than one stage or type of usage in the foregoing usage process.
- references to “end user”, or any similar term, as used therein are generally intended to not include the user that is the furthest removed, in the foregoing usage process, from the final user therein of an embodiment of the present invention.
- intermediate user(s) may include, without limitation, any individual person or non-human thing benefiting in any way, directly or indirectly, from use of, or interaction with, some aspect of the present invention with respect to selling, vending, Original Equipment Manufacturing, marketing, merchandising, distributing, service providing, and the like thereof.
- the mechanisms/units/circuits/components used with the “configured to” or “operable for” language include hardware—for example, mechanisms, structures, electronics, circuits, memory storing program instructions executable to implement the operation, etc. Reciting that a mechanism/unit/circuit/component is “configured to” or “operable for” perform(ing) one or more tasks is expressly intended not to invoke 35 U.S.C. .sctn.112, sixth paragraph, for that mechanism/unit/circuit/component. “Configured to” may also include adapting a manufacturing process to fabricate devices or components that are adapted to implement or perform one or more tasks.
- this term is used to describe one or more factors that affect a determination. This term does not foreclose additional factors that may affect a determination. That is, a determination may be solely based on those factors or based, at least in part, on those factors.
- a determination may be solely based on those factors or based, at least in part, on those factors.
- phase “consisting of” excludes any element, step, or ingredient not specified in the claim.
- the phrase “consists of” (or variations thereof) appears in a clause of the body of a claim, rather than immediately following the preamble, it limits only the element set forth in that clause; other elements are not excluded from the claim as a whole.
- the phase “consisting essentially of” and “consisting of” limits the scope of a claim to the specified elements or method steps, plus those that do not materially affect the basis and novel characteristic(s) of the claimed subject matter (see Norian Corp. v Stryker Corp., 363 F.3d 1321, 1331-32, 70 USPQ2d 1508, Fed. Cir. 2004).
- any instance of “comprising” may be replaced by “consisting of” or, alternatively, by “consisting essentially of”, and thus, for the purposes of claim support and construction for “consisting of” format claims, such replacements operate to create yet other alternative embodiments “consisting essentially of” only the elements recited in the original “comprising” embodiment to the exclusion of all other elements.
- any claim limitation phrased in functional limitation terms covered by 35 USC ⁇ 112(6) (post AIA 112(f)) which has a preamble invoking the closed terms “consisting of,” or “consisting essentially of,” should be understood to mean that the corresponding structure(s) disclosed herein define the exact metes and bounds of what the so claimed invention embodiment(s) consists of, or consisting essentially of, to the exclusion of any other elements which do not materially affect the intended purpose of the so claimed embodiment(s).
- Devices or system modules that are in at least general communication with each other need not be in continuous communication with each other, unless expressly specified otherwise.
- devices or system modules that are in at least general communication with each other may communicate directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries.
- any system components described or named in any embodiment or claimed herein may be grouped or sub-grouped (and accordingly implicitly renamed) in any combination or sub-combination as those skilled in the art can imagine as suitable for the particular application, and still be within the scope and spirit of the claimed embodiments of the present invention.
- a commercial implementation in accordance with the spirit and teachings of the present invention may configured according to the needs of the particular application, whereby any aspect(s), feature(s), function(s), result(s), component(s), approach(es), or step(s) of the teachings related to any described embodiment of the present invention may be suitably omitted, included, adapted, mixed and matched, or improved and/or optimized by those skilled in the art, using their average skills and known techniques, to achieve the desired implementation that addresses the needs of the particular application.
- Coupled may mean that two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contact. However, “coupled” may also mean that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other, but yet still cooperate or interact with each other.
- a “computer” may refer to one or more apparatus and/or one or more systems that are capable of accepting a structured input, processing the structured input according to prescribed rules, and producing results of the processing as output.
- Examples of a computer may include: a computer; a stationary and/or portable computer; a computer having a single processor, multiple processors, or multi-core processors, which may operate in parallel and/or not in parallel; a general purpose computer; a supercomputer; a mainframe; a super mini-computer; a mini-computer; a workstation; a micro-computer; a server; a client; an interactive television; a web appliance; a telecommunications device with internet access; a hybrid combination of a computer and an interactive television; a portable computer; a tablet personal computer (PC); a personal digital assistant (PDA); a portable telephone; application-specific hardware to emulate a computer and/or software, such as, for example, a digital signal processor (DSP), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), an application specific integrated
- embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced in network computing environments with many types of computer system configurations, including personal computers, hand-held devices, multi-processor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like. Where appropriate, embodiments may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by local and remote processing devices that are linked (either by hardwired links, wireless links, or by a combination thereof) through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.
- Software may refer to prescribed rules to operate a computer. Examples of software may include: code segments in one or more computer-readable languages; graphical and or/textual instructions; applets; pre-compiled code; interpreted code; compiled code; and computer programs.
- the example embodiments described herein can be implemented in an operating environment comprising computer-executable instructions (e.g., software) installed on a computer, in hardware, or in a combination of software and hardware.
- the computer-executable instructions can be written in a computer programming language or can be embodied in firmware logic. If written in a programming language conforming to a recognized standard, such instructions can be executed on a variety of hardware platforms and for interfaces to a variety of operating systems.
- HTML Hyper text Markup Language
- XML Extensible Markup Language
- XSL Extensible Stylesheet Language
- DSSSL Document Style Semantics and Specification Language
- SCS Cascading Style Sheets
- SML Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language
- WML JavaTM, JiniTM, C, C++, Smalltalk, Perl, UNIX Shell, Visual Basic or Visual Basic Script, Virtual Reality Markup Language (VRML), ColdFusionTM or other compilers, assemblers, interpreters or other computer languages or platforms.
- Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of the present invention may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages.
- the program code may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server.
- the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).
- LAN local area network
- WAN wide area network
- Internet Service Provider for example, AT&T, MCI, Sprint, EarthLink, MSN, GTE, etc.
- a network is a collection of links and nodes (e.g., multiple computers and/or other devices connected together) arranged so that information may be passed from one part of the network to another over multiple links and through various nodes.
- networks include the Internet, the public switched telephone network, the global Telex network, computer networks (e.g., an intranet, an extranet, a local-area network, or a wide-area network), wired networks, and wireless networks.
- the Internet is a worldwide network of computers and computer networks arranged to allow the easy and robust exchange of information between computer users.
- ISPs Internet Service Providers
- Content providers e.g., website owners or operators
- multimedia information e.g., text, graphics, audio, video, animation, and other forms of data
- webpages comprise a collection of connected, or otherwise related, webpages.
- the combination of all the websites and their corresponding webpages on the Internet is generally known as the World Wide Web (WWW) or simply the Web.
- each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s).
- the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved.
- These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readable medium produce an article of manufacture including instructions which implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
- Non-volatile media include, for example, optical or magnetic disks and other persistent memory.
- Volatile media include dynamic random access memory (DRAM), which typically constitutes the main memory.
- Transmission media include coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires that comprise a system bus coupled to the processor. Transmission media may include or convey acoustic waves, light waves and electromagnetic emissions, such as those generated during radio frequency (RF) and infrared (IR) data communications.
- RF radio frequency
- IR infrared
- Computer-readable media include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, an EPROM, a FLASH-EEPROM, removable media, flash memory, a “memory stick”, any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave as described hereinafter, or any other medium from which a computer can read.
- a floppy disk a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, an EPROM, a FLASH-EEPROM, removable media, flash memory, a “memory stick”, any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave as described hereinafter, or any other medium from which a computer can read.
- sequences of instruction may be delivered from RAM to a processor, (ii) may be carried over a wireless transmission medium, and/or (iii) may be formatted according to numerous formats, standards or protocols, such as Bluetooth®, TDMA, CDMA, 3G.
- a “computer system” may refer to a system having one or more computers, where each computer may include a computer-readable medium embodying software to operate the computer or one or more of its components.
- Examples of a computer system may include: a distributed computer system for processing information via computer systems linked by a network; two or more computer systems connected together via a network for transmitting and/or receiving information between the computer systems; a computer system including two or more processors within a single computer; and one or more apparatuses and/or one or more systems that may accept data, may process data in accordance with one or more stored software programs, may generate results, and typically may include input, output, storage, arithmetic, logic, and control units.
- a “network” may refer to a number of computers and associated devices that may be connected by communication facilities.
- a network may involve permanent connections such as cables or temporary connections such as those made through telephone or other communication links.
- a network may further include hard-wired connections (e.g., coaxial cable, twisted pair, optical fiber, waveguides, etc.) and/or wireless connections (e.g., radio frequency waveforms, free-space optical waveforms, acoustic waveforms, etc.).
- Examples of a network may include: an internet, such as the Internet; an intranet; a local area network (LAN); a wide area network (WAN); and a combination of networks, such as an internet and an intranet.
- client-side application should be broadly construed to refer to an application, a page associated with that application, or some other resource or function invoked by a client-side request to the application.
- a “browser” as used herein is not intended to refer to any specific browser (e.g., Internet Explorer, Safari, FireFox, or the like), but should be broadly construed to refer to any client-side rendering engine that can access and display Internet-accessible resources.
- a “rich” client typically refers to a non-HTTP based client-side application, such as an SSH or CFIS client. Further, while typically the client-server interactions occur using HTTP, this is not a limitation either.
- the client server interaction may be formatted to conform to the Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) and travel over HTTP (over the public Internet), FTP, or any other reliable transport mechanism (such as IBM® MQSeries® technologies and CORBA, for transport over an enterprise intranet) may be used.
- SOAP Simple Object Access Protocol
- HTTP over the public Internet
- FTP Fast Transfer Protocol
- Any application or functionality described herein may be implemented as native code, by providing hooks into another application, by facilitating use of the mechanism as a plug-in, by linking to the mechanism, and the like.
- Exemplary networks may operate with any of a number of protocols, such as Internet protocol (IP), asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), and/or synchronous optical network (SONET), user datagram protocol (UDP), IEEE 802.x, etc.
- IP Internet protocol
- ATM asynchronous transfer mode
- SONET synchronous optical network
- UDP user datagram protocol
- IEEE 802.x IEEE 802.x
- Embodiments of the present invention may include apparatuses for performing the operations disclosed herein.
- An apparatus may be specially constructed for the desired purposes, or it may comprise a general-purpose device selectively activated or reconfigured by a program stored in the device.
- Embodiments of the invention may also be implemented in one or a combination of hardware, firmware, and software. They may be implemented as instructions stored on a machine-readable medium, which may be read and executed by a computing platform to perform the operations described herein.
- aspects of the present invention may be embodied as a system, method or computer program product. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.” Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more computer readable medium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon.
- computer program medium and “computer readable medium” may be used to generally refer to media such as, but not limited to, removable storage drives, a hard disk installed in hard disk drive, and the like.
- These computer program products may provide software to a computer system. Embodiments of the invention may be directed to such computer program products.
- An algorithm is here, and generally, considered to be a self-consistent sequence of acts or operations leading to a desired result. These include physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated. It has proven convenient at times, principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers or the like. It should be understood, however, that all of these and similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities.
- the phrase “configured to” or “operable for” can include generic structure (e.g., generic circuitry) that is manipulated by software and/or firmware (e.g., an FPGA or a general-purpose processor executing software) to operate in a manner that is capable of performing the task(s) at issue. “Configured to” may also include adapting a manufacturing process (e.g., a semiconductor fabrication facility) to fabricate devices (e.g., integrated circuits) that are adapted to implement or perform one or more tasks.
- a manufacturing process e.g., a semiconductor fabrication facility
- devices e.g., integrated circuits
- processor may refer to any device or portion of a device that processes electronic data from registers and/or memory to transform that electronic data into other electronic data that may be stored in registers and/or memory.
- a “computing platform” may comprise one or more processors.
- Embodiments within the scope of the present disclosure may also include tangible and/or non-transitory computer-readable storage media for carrying or having computer-executable instructions or data structures stored thereon.
- Such non-transitory computer-readable storage media can be any available media that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer, including the functional design of any special purpose processor as discussed above.
- non-transitory computer-readable media can include RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to carry or store desired program code means in the form of computer-executable instructions, data structures, or processor chip design.
- non-transitory computer readable medium includes, but is not limited to, a hard drive, compact disc, flash memory, volatile memory, random access memory, magnetic memory, optical memory, semiconductor based memory, phase change memory, optical memory, periodically refreshed memory, and the like; the non-transitory computer readable medium, however, does not include a pure transitory signal per se; i.e., where the medium itself is transitory.
- Embodiments of the invention disclosed herein relate to audio systems. More particularly embodiments of the invention disclosed herein related to a Bluetooth® type headphone or headset i.e., a headphone with a wireless transceiver. It will be appreciated by a person with ordinary skill in the art, in light of and in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, that the Bluetooth® chips transmit over a short range (about 30 feet) and consume very little power. Accordingly, in one embodiment is provided, a primary module.
- the headphone may be in working communication with a computer device, wherein the primary module may include a Bluetooth® transceiver to receive audio signals to and from the computer device.
- the primary module may also house a stereo amplifier and two speakers which may direct their sound output upward through flexible and rigid sound tubes to ergonomically designed ear buds.
- the primary module may include buttons for switching the headphone “ON” or “OFF”. For example, if the primary module is connected a phone device, a user may choose to answer an incoming phone call either by pressing the “answer phone” button on the primary module or by pressing the “answer phone” display on the phone. The user may terminate the call in a similar manner, i.e., either by pressing the “terminate phone or hang-Up” button on the primary module or by pressing the “terminate phone” display on the phone.
- FIG. 1 illustrates an audio system 100 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
- the audio system 100 includes a pair of ergonomically designed ear buds 110 , a sound tube 112 , a hang up button 116 , an answer button 118 , a charging port 120 , a digital audio player port 122 , a wireless transceiver module 124 , a spring clip 126 , and a micro phone 128 .
- the sound tube 112 may include a rigid sound tube portion 113 and a flexible sound tube 114 .
- the answer button and the hang up button may include a single button that may operate to switch-ON and switch-OFF the microphone using methods known in the art.
- the wireless transceiver module 124 may house a battery or a rechargeable battery, speakers, and transducers.
- the spring clip may include a stethoscope style spring clip.
- Hang up button 116 , answer button 118 , charging port 120 , digital audio player port 122 (for example, an mp3 port), wireless transceiver module 124 , and micro phone 128 may be housed in a primary module 132 .
- the headphone may be in working communication with a user's computer system.
- the computer system may include, but not be limited to, a smartphone, a tablet, a personal computer, and the like devices.
- the headphone may transmit and receive audio signals to and from the Bluetooth® transceiver in the primary module.
- the user may choose to answer the phone by pressing answer button 118 on primary module 132 of headphone 100 or by using the answer link on the phone itself.
- the user may choose to hang-up the phone by pressing hang-up button 116 on primary module 132 of headphone 100 or by using the hang-up link on the phone itself.
- the headphones may be charged in any convenient manner available to the user.
- headphone 100 may be connected to a suitable power system with wires via charging port 120 for charging headphone 100 , for example, using a C type USB charging port on the primary module.
- the headphones may be charged wirelessly 130 .
- Flexible sound tube 114 may connect the speakers in primary module 130 to rigid sound tubes 112 which then carries the sound to a user's ears without the use of wires.
- the user may gently pull the rigid sound tubes outward to the right and left side and then insert them in the ear canal. Once thus positioned, the user may allow the headphones to hang below the user's chin or raise it up so that the microphone may be directly in front of the user's mouth, which might be necessary in windy or noisy conditions so that user's voice will be louder at and in the proximity of the microphone over the surrounding sounds.
- the user when the headphone is not in use the user may gently pull the rigid sound tubes away from the user's head and drop the headphone down so that it “hugs” the user's neck, for example, like a medical stethoscope.
- the headphone may not interfere with the user's other activities but may always be handy for the user, for example, to quickly answer the phone, listen to music, etc.
- FIG. 2 illustrates an architecture 200 for an audio system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
- An audio system architecture 200 may comprise a computing system 212 .
- the computing system 212 includes a voice capture module 216 , a sensor module 218 , a database module 221 , an information processing, formatting, and organizing module 220 , a wireless communication sending module 222 , a wireless communication receiving module 223 , a display module 224 , an interface module 226 , and a heuristic module 228 .
- the voice capture module 216 may have a means of capturing the voice, such as, without limitation, a voice recorder or virtually any voice recorder, of the external input devices 210 .
- the sensor module 218 may have a means of sensing various parameters involved in communication including sensing the touch when a user touches the answer button or hang-up button, or sensing the wireless communication from input devices, and the like.
- Information processing, formatting, and organizing module 220 may have a means of processing a touch sense, a voice, and the gathered physical information and sensor information, such as, without limitation, a processing unit, a computer, or a server to execute computer code and/or algorithms from a non-transitory computer readable medium for voice, and sensor parameter recognition.
- a wireless communication sending module 222 and a wireless communication receiving module 223 may have a means of sending and receiving information received from a computer device to a user or from a charging device to the headphones.
- a display module 224 may have a means to display to the user to enable the user to provide input information to the headphones, enable the user to view the output information from the headphones, enable the user to stop input information to the head phones, etc.
- An interface module 226 may have a processing means such as, without limitation, a processing unit, a computer, or a server to execute computer code and/or algorithms from a non-transitory computer readable medium for interfacing between the various modules.
- a heuristic module 232 may have a processing means such as, without limitation, a processing unit, a computer, or a server to execute computer code and/or algorithms from a non-transitory computer readable medium for processing the data/information provided by the data analyzing module and providing pointers to the user based on a self-learning model, for example, direct user to recently used or frequently used phone call or message list, music list, etc.
- a self-learning model for example, direct user to recently used or frequently used phone call or message list, music list, etc.
- Self-learning algorithms and/or methods may include, without limitation, the use of artificial intelligence, however, the development of self-learning algorithms are really the new or current state-of-the-art if coupled with smart sensors and electromechanical systems the opportunities are infinite.
- one or more modules may be embodied in a single device.
- all modules except the display module may be embodied in the computing device of the audio system.
- the information from a computing device may be related or communicated to the user form the user's personal computer, laptop device, smart phone device, etc. via the headphones.
- Voice recognition algorithms and/or methods may include, without limitation, Bayesian networks, fuzzy logic, neural networks, template matching, Hidden Markov models, machine learning, data mining, feature extraction and data analysis/statistics, optical character recognition, etc.
- a binary search tree may be implemented to extract data from a voice.
- Surround sense recognition algorithms for example, for sensing touch may include, without limitation, Bayesian networks, fuzzy logic, neural networks, template matching, Hidden Markov models, machine learning, data mining, feature extraction and data analysis/statistics, optical character recognition, etc.
- a binary search tree may be implemented to extract data from a sensory information.
- Voice recognition algorithms and/or methods may include, without limitation, Bayesian networks, fuzzy logic, neural networks, template matching, Hidden Markov models, machine learning, data mining, feature extraction and data analysis/statistics, optical character recognition, etc.
- a binary search tree may be implemented to extract data from a voice.
- a plurality of modules such as, without limitation, a voice capture module 216 , a sensor module 218 , a database module 221 , an information processing, formatting, and organizing module 220 , a wireless communication sending module 222 , a wireless communication receiving module 223 , a display module 224 , an interface module 226 , and a heuristic module 228 may be present in an audio system disclosed herein.
- the plurality of similar modules may work in parallel or independently to improve the throughput of an audio system architecture 200 .
- a plurality of capture, processing, formatting, and organizing, generation, display, interface, communication, heuristic, and storage modules may be connected to an audio system via wireless connections to access resources from different wired and wireless networks.
- a plurality of similar modules may form a secondary audio system capable of seamlessly substituting an errant module.
- one or more modules may transmit capture information to a tech support server that is on an accessible network or over the internet.
- additional captured information may be sent to a server to alleviate processing load on a system.
- the architecture may support a local home network where the sensor devices can connect to a local CPU/GPU combination for edge-based computing along with a cloud network connection which may allow for improved performance and reliability along with scale and storage and for continuous fine tuning of the algorithms and analysis of performance.
- any module in audio system architecture 200 may perform data manipulation.
- Data manipulation such as, but not limited to, compression, encryption, formatting.
- any module sending data may first compress the data prior to data transmission.
- FIG. 3 illustrates a photograph of an exemplary prototype of an audio system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
- the headphones described herein may be designed like a stethoscope.
- the audio system 300 includes a pair of ergonomically designed ear buds 110 , a sound tube 112 , a flexible sound tube 114 , a hang up button 116 , an answer button 118 , a charging port (not shown in figure), an digital audio player port (not shown in figure), a Bluetooth® receiver module (not shown in figure), a stethoscope style spring clip 126 , and a micro phone 128 .
- the Bluetooth® receiver module may house a rechargeable battery, and speakers/transducers.
- Hang up button 116 , answer button 118 , charging port, digital audio player port, Bluetooth® receiver module, and micro phone 128 may be housed in a primary module 132 .
- the headphone may be in working communication with a user's computer system.
- the computer system may include, but not be limited to, a smartphone, a tablet, a personal computer, and the like devices.
- the headphone may transmit and receive audio signals to and from the Bluetooth® transceiver in the primary module.
- FIG. 4 illustrates a side view photograph 400 of an exemplary prototype of an audio system being used by a user, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
- a user 418 is wearing an audio system, i.e., a headphone disclosed herein.
- Audio system 400 includes a soft tip ergonomic ear bud 410 , a transition tube 412 (i.e., a flexible tube), a main sound tube 414 (i.e., a rigid tube), and a speaker 416 .
- a flexible tube may be disposed either between the primary module and the rigid hollow tubes, or between the ear buds and the rigid hollow tube, or in both these positions of the audio system.
- FIG. 5 illustrates a front view photograph 500 of an exemplary prototype of an audio system being used by a user, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
- a user 518 is wearing an audio system, i.e., a headphone as described herein.
- the placement of the various parts of the audio system 500 i.e., microphone 128 located relatively close to the mouth in fixed position, spring 126 to hold the sound tubes in place, answer button 118 (shown as a green button on primary module 132 ), with reference to user 518 is shown.
- microphone 128 may be located on primary module 132 hanging under the chin, which may be capable of rotating forward in front of the mouth. It will be appreciated by a person with ordinary skill in the art, in light of and in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, that the primary module 132 may be fabricated in any suitable shape as long it is able to accommodate the answer button, the hang-up button, the microphone, the wireless transceivers, the digital audio port, and other required features.
- Suitable shapes of the primary module 132 include, but are not limited to, rectangular, oval, leaf shaped, shaped according to user's sun sign, and the like.
- the audio system may include a microphone and a sound tube assembly as an integrated rigid component connected to each other by a sort of leaf type spring with the primary module, i.e., the electronics module suspended in between.
- the various parts of the audio system described herein like the ear buds, the flexible tube, the rigid tube, the primary module, etc. may be made of materials and in shapes and sizes suitable for the purpose described herein.
- the earbuds may be made of silicone including medical grade and hypoallergent material, rubber, and the like materials.
- the rigid tubes may be made of polycarbonate.
- the audio system disclosed herein includes a Bluetooth® stereo transceiver with two small audio speakers emitting sound through a short flexible hollow tube connected to a longer rigid hollow tube leading to ergonomically designed ear buds at the upper tips, and is fashioned in the form of a stethoscope.
- the rigid hollow tubes carrying the sound from the speaker to the ear keep electronics away from the brain.
- the audio system includes a leaf type spring pulling the longer rigid hollow tubes together so that the ear buds may either stay comfortably inserted into a user's ears when in use or, alternatively, they may “hug” the neck of the wearer when not in use, thereby providing a “hands free” method of either wearing the device in a position ready for quick and easy access, or easily popping the ear buds into a user's ears in order to answer a telephone call or to listen to music, radio or any other recorded or broadcast audio service.
- the audio system may include wired or wireless charging system.
- the audio system described herein may have various advantages including but not limited to, (i) the audio system may utilize rigid hollow tubes pulled together by a spring to carry the sound from the miniature stereo speakers to the ears. This may keep the components that are ultra-light snugly but comfortably supported by the ears while ensuring that the soft tip ergonomically designed ear buds remain inserted for optimal sound quality.
- the audio system may place the microphone which is adjustable, just below or in front of a user's mouth the mouth ensuring that the user's voice will be received loudly and clearly minimizing interference from any unwanted background noise;
- the absence of exposed wires may eliminate the issue of tangled or broken wires while making the device easier and faster to put on or take off and easier to store or charge when not in use; and
- wireless charging capability (charger included) may virtually eliminate the need to constantly connect and disconnect charging cables/plugs.
- any of the foregoing steps and/or system modules may be suitably replaced, reordered, removed and additional steps and/or system modules may be inserted depending upon the needs of the particular application, and that the systems of the foregoing embodiments may be implemented using any of a wide variety of suitable processes and system modules, and is not limited to any particular computer hardware, software, middleware, firmware, microcode and the like.
- a typical computer system can, when appropriately configured or designed, serve as a computer system in which those aspects of the invention may be embodied.
- Such computers referenced and/or described in this disclosure may be any kind of computer, either general purpose, or some specific purpose computer such as, but not limited to, a workstation, a mainframe, GPU, ASIC, etc.
- the programs may be written in C, or Java, Brew or any other suitable programming language.
- the programs may be resident on a storage medium, e.g., magnetic or optical, e.g., without limitation, the computer hard drive, a removable disk or media such as, without limitation, a memory stick or SD media, or other removable medium.
- the programs may also be run over a network, for example, with a server or other machine sending signals to the local machine, which allows the local machine to carry out the operations described herein.
- FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram depicting a conventional client/server communication system, which may be used by an exemplary web-enabled/networked embodiment of the present invention.
- a communication system 600 includes a multiplicity of networked regions with a sampling of regions denoted as a network region 602 and a network region 604 , a global network 606 and a multiplicity of servers with a sampling of servers denoted as a server device 608 and a server device 610 .
- Network region 602 and network region 604 may operate to represent a network contained within a geographical area or region.
- Non-limiting examples of representations for the geographical areas for the networked regions may include postal zip codes, telephone area codes, states, counties, cities and countries.
- Elements within network region 602 and 604 may operate to communicate with external elements within other networked regions or within elements contained within the same network region.
- global network 606 may operate as the Internet. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that communication system 600 may take many different forms. Non-limiting examples of forms for communication system 600 include local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), wired telephone networks, cellular telephone networks or any other network supporting data communication between respective entities via hardwired or wireless communication networks. Global network 606 may operate to transfer information between the various networked elements.
- LANs local area networks
- WANs wide area networks
- wired telephone networks cellular telephone networks or any other network supporting data communication between respective entities via hardwired or wireless communication networks.
- Global network 606 may operate to transfer information between the various networked elements.
- Server device 608 and server device 610 may operate to execute software instructions, store information, support database operations and communicate with other networked elements.
- software and scripting languages which may be executed on server device 608 and server device 610 include C, C++, C# and Java.
- Network region 602 may operate to communicate bi-directionally with global network 606 via a communication channel 612 .
- Network region 604 may operate to communicate bi-directionally with global network 606 via a communication channel 614 .
- Server device 608 may operate to communicate bi-directionally with global network 606 via a communication channel 616 .
- Server device 610 may operate to communicate bi-directionally with global network 606 via a communication channel 618 .
- Network region 602 and 604 , global network 606 and server devices 608 and 610 may operate to communicate with each other and with every other networked device located within communication system 600 .
- Server device 608 includes a networking device 620 and a server 622 .
- Networking device 620 may operate to communicate bi-directionally with global network 606 via communication channel 616 and with server 622 via a communication channel 624 .
- Server 622 may operate to execute software instructions and store information.
- Network region 602 includes a multiplicity of clients with a sampling denoted as a client 626 and a client 628 .
- Client 626 includes a networking device 634 , a processor 636 , a GUI 638 and an interface device 640 .
- Non-limiting examples of devices for GUI 638 include monitors, televisions, cellular telephones, smartphones and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants).
- Non-limiting examples of interface device 640 include pointing device, mouse, trackball, scanner and printer.
- Networking device 634 may communicate bi-directionally with global network 606 via communication channel 612 and with processor 636 via a communication channel 642 .
- GUI 638 may receive information from processor 636 via a communication channel 644 for presentation to a user for viewing.
- Interface device 640 may operate to send control information to processor 636 and to receive information from processor 636 via a communication channel 646 .
- Network region 604 includes a multiplicity of clients with a sampling denoted as a client 630 and a client 632 .
- Client 630 includes a networking device 648 , a processor 650 , a GUI 652 and an interface device 654 .
- Non-limiting examples of devices for GUI 638 include monitors, televisions, cellular telephones, smartphones and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants).
- Non-limiting examples of interface device 640 include pointing devices, mousse, trackballs, scanners and printers.
- Networking device 648 may communicate bi-directionally with global network 606 via communication channel 614 and with processor 650 via a communication channel 656 .
- GUI 652 may receive information from processor 650 via a communication channel 658 for presentation to a user for viewing.
- Interface device 654 may operate to send control information to processor 650 and to receive information from processor 650 via
- a user may enter the IP (Internet Protocol) address for the networked application using interface device 640 .
- the IP address information may be communicated to processor 636 via communication channel 646 .
- Processor 636 may then communicate the IP address information to networking device 634 via communication channel 642 .
- Networking device 634 may then communicate the IP address information to global network 606 via communication channel 612 .
- Global network 606 may then communicate the IP address information to networking device 620 of server device 608 via communication channel 616 .
- Networking device 620 may then communicate the IP address information to server 622 via communication channel 624 .
- Server 622 may receive the IP address information and after processing the IP address information may communicate return information to networking device 620 via communication channel 624 .
- Networking device 620 may communicate the return information to global network 606 via communication channel 616 .
- Global network 606 may communicate the return information to networking device 634 via communication channel 612 .
- Networking device 634 may communicate the return information to processor 636 via communication channel 642 .
- Processor 666 may communicate the return information to GUI 668 via communication channel 644 . User may then view the return information on GUI 638 .
- FIG. 7 is a block diagram depicting an exemplary client/server system which may be used by an exemplary web-enabled/networked embodiment of the present invention.
- a communication system 700 includes a multiplicity of clients with a sampling of clients denoted as a client 702 and a client 704 , a multiplicity of local networks with a sampling of networks denoted as a local network 706 and a local network 708 , a global network 710 and a multiplicity of servers with a sampling of servers denoted as a server 712 and a server 714 .
- Client 702 may communicate bi-directionally with local network 706 via a communication channel 716 .
- Client 704 may communicate bi-directionally with local network 708 via a communication channel 718 .
- Local network 706 may communicate bi-directionally with global network 710 via a communication channel 720 .
- Local network 708 may communicate bi-directionally with global network 710 via a communication channel 722 .
- Global network 710 may communicate bi-directionally with server 712 and server 714 via a communication channel 724 .
- Server 712 and server 714 may communicate bi-directionally with each other via communication channel 724 .
- clients 702 , 704 , local networks 706 , 708 , global network 710 and servers 712 , 714 may each communicate bi-directionally with each other.
- global network 710 may operate as the Internet. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that communication system 700 may take many different forms. Non-limiting examples of forms for communication system 700 include local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), wired telephone networks, wireless networks, or any other network supporting data communication between respective entities.
- LANs local area networks
- WANs wide area networks
- wired telephone networks wireless networks, or any other network supporting data communication between respective entities.
- Clients 702 and 704 may take many different forms.
- Non-limiting examples of clients 702 and 704 include personal computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), cellular phones and smartphones.
- PDAs personal digital assistants
- smartphones may take many different forms.
- Client 702 includes a CPU 726 , a pointing device 728 , a keyboard 730 , a microphone 732 , a printer 734 , a memory 736 , a mass memory storage 738 , a GUI 740 , a video camera 742 , an input/output interface 744 and a network interface 746 .
- CPU 726 , pointing device 728 , keyboard 730 , microphone 732 , printer 734 , memory 736 , mass memory storage 738 , GUI 740 , video camera 742 , input/output interface 744 and network interface 746 may communicate in a unidirectional manner or a bi-directional manner with each other via a communication channel 748 .
- Communication channel 748 may be configured as a single communication channel or a multiplicity of communication channels.
- CPU 726 may be comprised of a single processor or multiple processors.
- CPU 726 may be of various types including micro-controllers (e.g., with embedded RAM/ROM) and microprocessors such as programmable devices (e.g., RISC or SISC based, or CPLDs and FPGAs) and devices not capable of being programmed such as gate array ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits) or general-purpose microprocessors.
- micro-controllers e.g., with embedded RAM/ROM
- microprocessors such as programmable devices (e.g., RISC or SISC based, or CPLDs and FPGAs) and devices not capable of being programmed such as gate array ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits) or general-purpose microprocessors.
- memory 736 is used typically to transfer data and instructions to CPU 726 in a bi-directional manner.
- Memory 736 may include any suitable computer-readable media, intended for data storage, such as those described above excluding any wired or wireless transmissions unless specifically noted.
- Mass memory storage 738 may also be coupled bi-directionally to CPU 726 and provides additional data storage capacity and may include any of the computer-readable media described above.
- Mass memory storage 738 may be used to store programs, data and the like and is typically a secondary storage medium such as a hard disk. It will be appreciated that the information retained within mass memory storage 738 , may, in appropriate cases, be incorporated in standard fashion as part of memory 736 as virtual memory.
- CPU 726 may be coupled to GUI 740 .
- GUI 740 enables a user to view the operation of computer operating system and software.
- CPU 726 may be coupled to pointing device 728 .
- Non-limiting examples of pointing device 728 include computer mouse, trackball and touchpad.
- Pointing device 728 enables a user with the capability to maneuver a computer cursor about the viewing area of GUI 740 and select areas or features in the viewing area of GUI 740 .
- CPU 726 may be coupled to keyboard 730 .
- Keyboard 730 enables a user with the capability to input alphanumeric textual information to CPU 726 .
- CPU 726 may be coupled to microphone 732 .
- Microphone 732 enables audio produced by a user to be recorded, processed and communicated by CPU 726 .
- CPU 726 may be connected to printer 734 .
- Printer 734 enables a user with the capability to print information to a sheet of paper.
- CPU 726 may be connected to video camera 742 .
- Video camera 742 enables video produced or captured by user to be recorded, processed and communicated by CPU 726 .
- CPU 726 may also be coupled to input/output interface 744 that connects to one or more input/output devices such as CD-ROM, video monitors, track balls, mice, keyboards, microphones, touch-sensitive displays, transducer card readers, magnetic or paper tape readers, tablets, styluses, voice or handwriting recognizers, or other well-known input devices such as, of course, other computers.
- input/output devices such as CD-ROM, video monitors, track balls, mice, keyboards, microphones, touch-sensitive displays, transducer card readers, magnetic or paper tape readers, tablets, styluses, voice or handwriting recognizers, or other well-known input devices such as, of course, other computers.
- CPU 726 optionally may be coupled to network interface 746 which enables communication with an external device such as a database or a computer or telecommunications or internet network using an external connection shown generally as communication channel 716 , which may be implemented as a hardwired or wireless communications link using suitable conventional technologies. With such a connection, CPU 726 might receive information from the network, or might output information to a network in the course of performing the method steps described in the teachings of the present invention.
- any of the foregoing described method steps and/or system components which may be performed remotely over a network may be performed and/or located outside of the jurisdiction of the USA while the remaining method steps and/or system components (e.g., without limitation, a locally located client) of the forgoing embodiments are typically required to be located/performed in the USA for practical considerations.
- a remotely located server typically generates and transmits required information to a US based client, for use according to the teachings of the present invention.
- each such recited function under 35 USC ⁇ 112 (6)/(f) is to be interpreted as the function of the local system receiving the remotely generated information required by a locally implemented claim limitation, wherein the structures and or steps which enable, and breathe life into the expression of such functions claimed under 35 USC ⁇ 112 (6)/(f) are the corresponding steps and/or means located within the jurisdiction of the USA that receive and deliver that information to the client (e.g., without limitation, client-side processing and transmission networks in the USA).
- Applicant(s) request(s) that fact finders during any claims construction proceedings and/or examination of patent allowability properly identify and incorporate only the portions of each of these documents discovered during the broadest interpretation search of 35 USC ⁇ 112(6) (post AIA 112(f)) limitation, which exist in at least one of the patent and/or non-patent documents found during the course of normal USPTO searching and or supplied to the USPTO during prosecution.
- Applicant(s) also incorporate by reference the bibliographic citation information to identify all such documents comprising functionally corresponding structures and related enabling material as listed in any PTO Form-892 or likewise any information disclosure statements (IDS) entered into the present patent application by the USPTO or Applicant(s) or any 3 rd parties.
- Applicant(s) also reserve its right to later amend the present application to explicitly include citations to such documents and/or explicitly include the functionally corresponding structures which were incorporate by reference above.
Abstract
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